tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38260759065801947282024-03-18T07:27:34.865-05:00Coffee BreakCoffee Break is a Christian devotional that is intended to help you in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ... and if you don't have a relationship with Him, we want to help you find out how to have one.Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.comBlogger3915125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-45717256304818729962024-03-18T07:25:00.003-05:002024-03-18T07:25:54.284-05:00"Present Suffering, Eternal Glory"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Matt-9-24" id="en-KJV-23404" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn." Matthew 9:24</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3026766662602583020" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Matt-9-24"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"And they laughed Him to scorn."</em> Not much has changed. People laughed at Jesus when He was following the Father's will. They laughed at His faith. They laughed at Him when He went against earthly thinking. They are still laughing at Him and laughing at His people. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Matt-9-24"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Matt-9-24"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20)</em> We shouldn't think that it is strange when we are laughed at because of our faith in Jesus. We shouldn't think it is strange when we are mocked for our faith. We shouldn't think it is strange when we are persecuted for our stand for Christ. Neither should we think it strange when we are mocked and labeled as being fanatics, intolerant, ignorant, etc. We should think it is normal because they did the same thing to Jesus-- if they did it to Him, they will do it to His followers. He was despised, rejected, mocked and ridiculed. They called Him names-- prince of the devils, glutton, drunkard, blasphemer. They lied about Him. They tried to kill Him. They finally crucified Him. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Matt-9-24"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I guess I haven't painted a very lovely picture. Seems pretty gloomy and hopeless. Why would we want to follow Jesus if this is what we have to look forward to? This is just one side of it. We need to know that this is part of being a Christian so that we won't be disillusioned when the times come that we are ridiculed for our faith. So, what do we have to look forward to then? Things that the eye hasn't seen, the hear hasn't heard of and things that haven't even entered into our hearts-- blessings here and now and in the eternal future. In the now, we have a relationship with God the Father. He daily loads us with benefits. We have abundant life, wisdom, grace, joy unspeakable and peace that passes understanding. In the world to come we will have life everlasting. The privilege of hearing the Father say, <i>"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord". </i>We have a home prepared for us in heaven. We will forever be with the Lord where there is no more suffering, no more pain, no more sickness, no more rejection, no more ridicule. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)</em> Suffering for your faith is a part of this world. They did it to Jesus so they will do it to us. But what we go through here is not even worthy to be compared to what we will receive in eternity if we hold fast to our profession of faith and endure to the end.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We will suffer for the cause of Christ while on earth, but the glory that we will experience in eternity will make it all worth it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Matt-9-24"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Corinthians 2:9</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 25:21,23</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 14:1-3</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Thessalonians 4:17</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-85635510482170927762024-03-15T06:22:00.000-05:002024-03-15T06:22:00.043-05:00"Dressed Or Naked?"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;" Colossians 3:12</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5492880978358049073" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would never dream of leaving my house naked. I always put on clothes before I go anywhere. Sometimes it takes me longer to get dressed than it does at other times. If I know I have to go somewhere the next day, I will pick out what I am going to wear the evening before. If I want to wear a particular outfit, I make sure it has been washed and ready to wear ahead of time. If I have to attend a special event I will spend hours, even days, looking for the right outfit. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">More often than not we are too focused on dressing our bodies than we are dressing our spirit. The Bible tells us to <em>"take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6:25)</em> That doesn't mean that we are not to care about our appearance and make sure we look presentable. It means that we shouldn't be anxious about it and make that the most important thing. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you get dressed "spiritually" each day? Are you more concerned about what you wear on your body than having your spirit dressed? The words "put on" means "to be clothed". God's word tells us how we are to be clothed/dressed spiritually. Each day we are to make sure we don't face the world "naked". God has provided "clothing" for us. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, God provided them with clothes of animal skins to cover their nakedness. He has provided us the same clothing of salvation through His Son Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Adam and Eve's bodies were dressed in the skins to cover their physical nakedness. We "wear" Christ, the Lamb, to cover our spiritual nakedness. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lord has also provided us with additional clothing to wear every day. We are to be clothed with mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. We are to be clothed with the armor of light. (Romans 13:12) Also we are to be clothed with the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11) And we are to be clothed with charity. (Colossians 3:14) He has provided us with not only clothes, but the right clothing for the right occasions that come our way each day, but we have to make sure we have put them on.</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Have you put on your "spiritual clothes" today? Or are you walking around "spiritually naked"?</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Col-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Galatians 3:27</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ephesians 4:24</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colossians 3:10</span></span></div><div><span class="text Col-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 1:29,36</span></span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-66710146656463250412024-03-14T05:35:00.003-05:002024-03-14T05:35:40.347-05:00"Endure To The End"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Gen-3-12" id="en-KJV-68" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." Genesis 2:12</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1784765866101120521" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I always find it sad that when something goes wrong in our lives, we start blaming God as if it was His fault. Adam blamed God (the woman YOU gave me) when he was the one who disobeyed. How was it God's fault? But there is something else that people do that I just cannot understand. When someone has let them down, when someone in their life has proven untrustworthy, when they have been wronged, many people turn their backs on God and walk away from Him. How did what another person do to you make you turn away from God? What did God have to do with that? Why was it His fault? Why is He the one to blame? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We see this all the time. Those who once served the Lord have now turned away from following Him. Why did they do that? I submit to you that if a person's relationship with the Lord can be so easily broken, then they more than likely never had a relationship with Him to begin with-- they were just religious. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Life is one big series of events-- some are good, some are bad. People hurt us, people betray us, friends come and go, jobs can be lost, situations can change at the drop of a hat, family will even let us down. But we must have a true relationship with the Lord that keeps us "rooted and grounded" in the ever changing, ever trying events of life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"><em>"... he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22b) </em>The meaning of the word endure here means: to remain, abide, not recede or flee; to preserver under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ; to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments. This doesn't sound like those who give up on God and turn from following Him. </span><span class="text Gen-3-12">It won't be the one who started the race that gets the prize, but the one who finishes it- those who continue going all the way to the end. It will be those who endure persecution, hardship, unkind treatment, betrayal, ridicule, difficulties, accusations, etc. It will be those who endure in their relationship with the Lord and resist the temptation to turn from following Him when times get bad or hard. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Gen-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Gen-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;">Are you grounded in your relationship with the Lord? Do you actually have a relationship with Him? Are you going to let what others do to you cause you to turn from Him? Are you going to let trying times cause you to stop following Him? Or are you determined to endure to the end? </span></span></div><div><span class="text Gen-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span><span class="text Gen-3-12">Have a great day. Why would you turn your back on God because of what someone else did? </span></span></div><div><span class="text Gen-3-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Gen-3-12"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 John 2:19</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippians 3:18</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Corinthians 9:24</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-10168305192517802062024-03-13T07:43:00.003-05:002024-03-13T07:43:30.075-05:00"Jesus Stood Up"<p><span class="text Acts-7-55" id="en-KJV-27172" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, </span><span class="text Acts-7-56" id="en-KJV-27173" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Acts 7:55,56</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-164793477144647774" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bible tells us that after Jesus ascended into heaven He sat down at the Father's right hand. It also tells us that He is seated there until the appointed time when He will make His enemies His "footstool". Yet at the stoning of Stephen, Stephen clearly saw Him standing at the right hand of God. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">When God the Father finished His work of creation, He rested-- He sat down. Jesus having finished His work of redemption, rested-- He sat down. But just because He sat down and entered into His rest doesn't mean that He is unaware or uncaring of what is going on in our lives. He is not asleep in His rest. He takes note of us. This is evident from the fact that He "stood" up to see what was happening to Stephen. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">The fact that Jesus stood up represents several things to me. On earth when an important person- a dignitary, a king or a bride- enters the room the audience stands. To Jesus those He died for are important to Him. Stephen had an audience with Him, so Jesus stood because Stephen was getting ready to "enter the room" (heaven). </span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span><span class="text Acts-7-56">Also on earth, at a football game when the team we are rooting for makes a touchdown, the audience stands. They stand because of joy, excitement and the victory of the touchdown. Jesus stood out of joy over Stephen's victory and faithfulness to Him even in the midst of adversity. </span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">When someone comes into a room, it is customary to stand and give them a welcome. This is another reason, why I believe Jesus stood-- to welcome Stephen home. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lastly, as I have already mentioned, we stand when we want to get a closer look at what is going on. Jesus stood at the stoning of Stephen. He didn't stay seated. He didn't turn His head. He didn't walk away. He stood acknowledging that He was watching and had His eye on Stephen. </span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">This morning, be encouraged through this story of Stephen. You are an important person to Jesus. He is rooting you on in your daily walk. He rejoices over you. He is awaiting your arrival and will be there to greet you. But also, be encouraged to know that whatever you are going through, whatever adversity you are facing, whatever the trial that is surrounding you, even if you feel like you are "being stoned", Jesus notices and is watching over your life.</span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Acts-7-56"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Though Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, He is completely aware of where you are and what you are going through.</span></span></div><div><span class="text Acts-7-56"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 8:34</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 12:2; 4:10</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 110:1</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Genesis 2:2,3</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-39539106933067345932024-03-12T07:04:00.000-05:002024-03-12T07:04:00.269-05:00"Earning Trust"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"Ye that fear the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">, trust in the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">: he is their help and their shield." Psalm 115:11</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4169923363652778906" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I was talking with a young man recently who is in a situation that involves others trusting him. I encouraged, and warned, him to make good choices and not do anything that would put that trust in jeopardy because once trust is broken it isn't easy to get back. Trust has to be earned. Trust is earned not by what we say alone, but by what we do.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Many people have fallen prey to scams because they trusted what someone said. Teens have given their bodies away because they trusted the words, "but I love you." Men have fallen prey to "gold-digging" women because of their flattering words. Once the words were trusted, the actions did not back them up-- they were untrustworthy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Employers gain trust in employees by watching their performance on the job. Parents trust teens with an automobile when they have proven themselves trustworthy to obey the laws of the road. As a child I remember being able to get a pet after I proved I could be trusted to take care of it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Repeatedly, the Bible tells us to trust the Lord. Can we trust Him? If trust is earned by what a person does, then there is no way we could ever possibly not trust Him. Jesus proved He could be trusted- not by what He said, but by what He did. He said He loved us, but then He proved He loved us by dying on the cross. (His actions backed up His words.) So to answer the question-- yes, we can trust Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We can't always trust what people say, the proof is in what they do. But we can always trust what Jesus says because the proof of His trustworthiness was in what He did. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 5:8</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 3:16</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-65718407306248308622024-03-11T07:20:00.001-05:002024-03-11T07:20:02.782-05:00"Fragments"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments..." Mark 6:43</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1342752946256729747" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Does your life feel like it has been broken in pieces? Are you living with a broken heart? Have you gone through a broken relationship? You are broken in body because of an illness. Perhaps you are broken emotionally because of overwhelming problems? Maybe your life has been fragmented (torn into pieces) because of your upbringing, bad choices, things that were done to you, life controlling addictions or because you were violated or betrayed by someone you trusted. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If your life has been "broken in pieces" (fragmented) I have good news for you. God knows how to take those "fragments" and use them to bring about something wonderful. Jesus had His disciples pick up the fragments of bread and fish-- the leftover pieces that would have been thrown away-- and put them in baskets to be used at another time. He wanted nothing wasted. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus can use your broken life to "feed" others. He can make what looks like "discard" and use it as sustenance to give to others who are "hungry". As we surrender our lives to Him, He knows how to make sure that nothing in our lives-- good or bad-- is wasted either. He can take those bad experiences, He can take those broken places, He can take those mistakes and failures, He can even take the consequences of wrong choices and use them for good in your life and the lives of others. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Don't look at the fragments of your life and think that nothing good can come from it. God can, and will, take them and use them in such a way where they won't be just wasted times in your life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Your broken life, your broken experiences can be used by the Lord to minister to others who have broken lives.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 8:28</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mark 6:35-44</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-19048500929960026392024-03-08T05:56:00.002-06:002024-03-08T05:56:40.926-06:00"A Troubled Heart - Part 2"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text John-14-1" id="en-KJV-26670" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.</span><span class="text John-14-2" id="en-KJV-26671" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><sup> </sup>In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. </span><span class="text John-14-3" id="en-KJV-26672" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3</span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7463448319062325338" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday we talked about having a "troubled heart". The scripture says to not let your heart be troubled. But how do we keep from it in a world full of trouble? There are several keys.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1) Like we said yesterday- don't defend your flesh/humanity. Don't make excuses for it to be troubled.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">2) <em>"Ye believe in God."</em> Lean upon your belief in who God is. He is the loving Heavenly Father who cares about you, so much so that He sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the ransom for you sins. If He spared not His Only Son, but delivered Him up for you, will He not also freely give you all things? All things- peace, strength, joy, safety, wisdom, provisions, soundness of mind, etc. He is also the Creator of the Universe-- He spoke it into existence and holds it together by the power of His word. If He can create all that we see, and don't see, He can certainly take care of you and all your needs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">3) <em>"Believe also in me."</em> Believe in Jesus as your Advocate with the Father, as your Intercessor. Believe He is standing in the gap for you. Believe that He is for you. Believe that He is with you. He would not have laid down His life for you then leave you on your own. He still walks and talks with you just like He did with the disciples while on earth. Believe that He is your friend that sticks closer than a brother. Believe that He is the Prince of Peace who has imparted His peace that passes understanding into your heart and mind. Then rest in His peace.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">4) <em>"In my Father's house."</em> Where is the Father's house? It is not on earth. Therefore, set your affections on things above. Keep looking up. Don't be so worldly minded. This life is not all there is. We are children of another kingdom. We are to be looking for a city whose builder and maker is the Lord. We are only passing through this life. So don't allow yourself to be conformed to this world. But be transformed by keeping your mind renewed with God's word. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">5) <em>"I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again."</em> There is hope in these words of Jesus, and a wonderful promise. Hold on to your hope. Hold on to your faith. Hold on to the words that Jesus has spoken to you. Guard your heart. Guard your thoughts. Don't let your hope be stolen during the troubling times. Hold on to His promises. Hold fast until the end. Fight the good fight of faith. There is a reward, and there is a prize laid up for those who endure to the end-- don't forget about it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Our belief in God, in Jesus, in His promises, and in the prize that is laid up for us will hold us steady in the times when our hearts are tempted to be troubled. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-3"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 8;32</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Timothy 6:12</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippians 3:14</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 John 2:1</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-10612796678070197902024-03-07T05:43:00.001-06:002024-03-07T05:43:04.798-06:00"A Troubled Heart"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text John-14-1" id="en-KJV-26670" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span class="chapternum"></span>Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1775199733175123116" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Don't let your heart be troubled-- disquieted, anxious, disturbed, fearful, restless, distressed, agitated. Does this sound like you? Are you anxious? Are you fearful? Are you restless? In the world in which we live it is easy to find ourselves in this state. Daily responsibilities, bad reports, the cares of this life, the state of affairs, tribulation, our job situation, the words and actions of others, can become an instrument to make our hearts troubled. But for the disciple of the Lord Jesus, we ought not have a troubled heart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We tend to excuse our "troubled hearts" with the defense that "I am only human". Yes, we are human, but we are humans who believe in and put our hope and trust in God. We are humans who are in a transformation process of becoming more like Him in this world. We are humans who have been called to take up our cross, deny ourselves, put to death the works of the flesh and reckon ourselves dead to this world and alive to Christ. We are humans who must decrease so that Christ can increase in our lives. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't want to sound cruel, hard-hearted or judgmental. We do face very real, very hurtful, very trying, very distressful situations. But we can't constantly give into them. During those times we have to let God arise and be seen in our lives. We have to follow the example of our beloved Savior- who for the joy that was set before Him became obedient unto the death of the cross. We have to follow the examples of the early church who counted it all joy when their faith was tried- even through persecution and tribulation. We have to follow the example of those in Revelations who loved not their lives unto death. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"You believe in God, believe also in Me."</em> Do we "believe" in God? If we do, then we should act like it even in trying times. We should have faith that He will make all things work together for our good. We should be fully persuaded that He is able to keep what we commit to Him. We should be confident that He will supply all our need, He will make a way, He will fight our battles, open prison doors, give us streams in the desert, guide us with His eyes and never leave us nor forsake us. Then we should know that He is watching over us and walking with us. Then we should know that we are still more than conquerors through Jesus no matter what we face. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, we face difficulties, (I am not denying that) and we always will as long as we are in this world. (John 16:33) But the more we give in to the feelings of our humanity and use it as an excuse to have troubled hearts we will never walk in the victory that Christ has given us. We will never experience the abundant life that He desires for us to have. We won't have joy or peace. And we will never walk in a level of faith that is worthy of those who say they "believe in God"-- but we will be defeated instead.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Stop defending your humanity and allowing it to be an excuse for a troubled heart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-14-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 16:24</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 3:30</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 12:2</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">James 1:2</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Revelation 12:11</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-91229476227842739372024-03-06T06:51:00.003-06:002024-03-06T06:51:32.423-06:00"The Gift Wrap"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3351338723192027859" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes we don't recognize the gifts that God is giving us because of the "package" they come wrapped in. I have received gifts that were wrapped in beautiful paper and bows. I have received gifts that were placed in a gift bag with pretty colored tissue stuffed in the top. But I have also received gifts that were wrapped in the plastic bag that they came from the store in. But each one-- even the one in the plain plastic bag-- was a gift. The wrapping just covered the gift. It didn't change the gift from being a gift. It didn't change the value of the gift. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">God sent mankind the gift of salvation and eternal life through Jesus His Son. When the gift of God came into the world, it came wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in a manger. What an odd "wrapping". When the gift was presented, it came "wrapped" in blood, nails and a cross. The outside "wrapping" didn't make it appear to be a beautiful gift, but it was the most wonderful, beautiful gift that could have been given to man. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Some people miss the gift of salvation because of the way it came "wrapped". They miss it because they see the suffering, the blood, the crown of thorns, the beatings, and the crucifixion and reject the gift of eternal life. There are other gifts that the Lord is trying to give to us that we miss as well because of the "wrapping". For example, we miss the gift of patience because it is wrapped in tribulation. <em>"Tribulation worketh patience". (Romans 5:3b) </em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></em></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">God is wanting to get some gifts to us, but we won't receive them because of the way they are "wrapped"-- we reject them because of the packaging. <em>"</em><span class="text 1Pet-5-10" id="en-KJV-30476"><em>But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (1 Peter 5:9)</em> He wants to perfect us, establish us, strengthen us and settle us, but it comes wrapped in suffering, so we reject it. The gift of a greater revelation of who Jesus was came to the disciples wrapped up in a storm on the sea. Joseph received the gift of destiny wrapped up in a pit, slavery and imprisonment. God gives good and perfect gifts to us, but the way they come wrapped may not look so good and perfect. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Pet-5-10"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Don't reject the gift because you don't like the wrapping. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Pet-5-10"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 8:27</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-91318597971452578702024-03-05T06:09:00.002-06:002024-03-05T06:09:10.638-06:00"Don't Leave It Behind"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Ps-111-4" id="en-KJV-15798" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> is gracious and full of compassion." Psalm 111:4</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5338064409987613966" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Recently we talked about forgetting/leaving some things behind-- past failures and victories-- and not camping out in yesterday. God has called us to go forward and not allow the "past" to hinder us from doing so. But there is one thing we have to mention on this subject. There is something that we can't leave behind and we must remember-- God's wonderful works, His grace, goodness, and compassion to us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We can't leave our testimony of what God has done for us in the past-- His wonderful works are to be remembered. In saying that I need to also say that we don't "camp out" in what He "did" for us and stay in that. He wants to do new works and miracles in our lives today. But at the same time, we should never forget what He has already done. Don't forget where He brought you from. Don't forget the time He delivered you out of the pit. Don't forget the time He calmed the raging storm that threatened to destroy you. Don't forget the many times He has healed your body, given you wisdom in a situation, given you strength when you were weak, lifted up your head when it hung down, came through at the last minute, and made a way when there was no way in sight. These wonderful works should never be forgotten. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Old Testament the Lord told the children of Israel to set up memorials-- through feasts, by the placing of stones, through writings, etc. These were to be reminders to them and the generations to come of God's wonder working power in their lives. By remembering the wonderful works that the Lord has done for us, we are making a memorial to constantly remind us of how good He has been to us. When you are going through a trial, you can look back at what He did for you in the past and be encouraged by it. When you are going through the fire, remembering the last time He delivered you from the fire will give you faith to know that He will do it again. When you remember how He came through for you in the past, it will remind you of His power to do what seems impossible and you will know that He can do the same again this time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Again, in leaving those things that are behind, we must never leave in the past our confidence in the Lord, our faith in Him, the knowledge of His mighty power, the memory of the times He did great and wonderful things for us, or our praise of His faithfulness. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. When we forget those things that are behind, we can't forget the wonderful works that the Lord has done. The memory of them will encourage us in the trials we face today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-111-4"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Exodus 12:14</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ecclesiastes 12:1</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 42:6; 77:11</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-76823409932172486792024-03-04T07:01:00.003-06:002024-03-04T07:01:11.199-06:00"Get Out And Go"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Ps-118-26" id="en-KJV-15896" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>: we have blessed you out of the house of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>." Psalm 118:26</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8204817896570484023" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This may be "stretching" the verse a little, but "get out of the house of the Lord and start blessing people". It is so easy for us as Christians to want to shut ourselves up behind the four walls of the church. We want to stay in our little comfort zone and do our own little religious things. We want to stay around other Christians in our own safe little world. But the Lord commissioned us to go, not stay. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Church and church attendance play a vital role in our Christianity. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It has a place. It is where we are helped to grow and be encouraged so that we can "go" out into the world and do the work we were called to do-- reach the lost for Christ. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord".</em> This was a prophesy about the Messiah who would come. The key word is "come". Jesus didn't stay in heaven behind gates of pearl, enjoying the splendor of heaven, surrounded by adoring angels, strolling down streets of gold. He came to earth. He walked among us. He went to the temple, but He didn't "live" there. He went at the appointed time-- it was His custom to do so. But the rest of the time He got out where humanity was-- the highways, byways, market place, the seashore, etc. He went to where the lost, the hurting, the afflicted, the rejected, the scorned, the condemned, and the guilty were. We are to not only follow His example, but continue the work He started by reaching people with the good news of the gospel. We do this by being those who "come in the name of the Lord" to those who are lost and in the darkness of sin. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Are you fulfilling the commission to go? Are you staying in the house of God and neglecting the call to go into your world? Are you blessing others by giving them the good news that God loves them and Jesus saves-- outside of the house of the Lord, as well as inside it? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We have a commission to fulfill, and we won't fulfill it inside the four walls of the church. We have to get out of the house and start blessing others in the name of the Lord.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-118-26"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mark 16:15</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Acts 1:1</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 4:16</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 52:7</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 10:15</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 10:25</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-495104087230766872024-03-01T05:53:00.003-06:002024-03-01T05:53:53.921-06:00"Appreciate The Gift"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5901612463153017071" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A gift is something that is given willingly to a person without payment in return. There is nothing that the recipient of the gift does to earn it. God gives us gifts every day, and many of them we take for granted-- like air to breath. The greatest gift He has given is the gift of eternal life. This gift was provided for us by Jesus at the cross. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">There are many things that a person can do with a gift. They can refuse it, they can receive it, they can neglect it after they have received it, or they can enjoy the gift and use it. It is the same with the gift of salvation/eternal life that God has provided. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-3-16"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Many have and still are refusing the gift of salvation. They don't want it or anything to do with it. Therefore, they will not receive it. When they stand before the Lord one day, they will want it then, but it will be too late. When that time comes, they can't blame God, it will not be His fault. It is not up to the giver whether a gift is accepted or not, it is up to the receiver. It will be their fault that they did not receive it-- not God's.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-3-16"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">On the other hand, many have received this free gift that God has so graciously provided. But what are they doing with it? If you have received it, what are you doing with it? Are you enjoying it and using it? Are you neglecting it? If you appreciate a gift you will use it and not neglect it. I bought my husband a turkey hunting vest for Christmas. It is evident that he appreciates that gift because every time he went turkey hunting he wore it. Had he not liked or appreciated it he would have left it hanging in the closet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-3-16"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If we "appreciate" the gift of God's salvation there will be evidence. The main evidence is our lives will show it. They will show it through our communion and fellowship with the Lord. They will show it through praise, worship and adoration of the Lord. They will show it by our lifestyle. They will show it through the love of God radiating from our lives. They will show it through our witnessing and testifying of God's love and goodness to others. If we don't appreciate it there will be evidence also-- neglect. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-3-16"></span><span class="text John-3-16"></span><span class="text John-3-16"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. If you appreciate the gift of salvation that you have received, you won't neglect it and your life will show it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text John-3-16"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 3:16; 4:10</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ephesians 2:8</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">James 1:17</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-72186925943541863582024-02-29T06:30:00.003-06:002024-02-29T06:30:32.598-06:00"The Word Perspective"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-KJV-28248" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4225894736787541254" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Rom-12-2"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Because we are so fleshly minded, we tend to look at everything from a fleshly/physical perspective. We respond, react, and live our lives by worldly principles. But if we are truly people of the Word, it should be the governing factor of our lives-- how we think, how we respond, how we react, and how we live. We should see and judge the circumstances of life, not from a worldly perspective but from a heavenly one. Some might say that is being too spiritually minded. I wonder if there is such a thing. Jesus was not earthly minded at all. We are told to have the same mind as Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Rom-12-2"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our thoughts govern our actions. What we think is what we do. And what we think is what we become. This is why the Bible tells us repeatedly to watch what we think. We are to guard our thoughts. Think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and that have a good report. We are to set our thoughts on things above and renew our minds. By doing so we know what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. His word is His will. If we are going to live by His will, then we need to start living by His Word. And living by His Word means looking at life through its perspective. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Rom-12-2"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We are to be people of the Word, therefore, we should look at the things of our lives from its perspective. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Rom-12-2"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippians 4:8; 2:5</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Corinthians 2:16</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 37:23</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-28726242929549297622024-02-28T06:42:00.003-06:002024-02-28T06:42:54.264-06:00"The Place Of Rest"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-9146458939298688723" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We all need times to get away where we can be refreshed and regroup. We need times of solitude and quiet where we can rest our bodies and clear our minds. But taking a trip or vacation is not always the answer. Have you heard anyone say, "I need a vacation to rest up from my vacation."? Leaving the familiar and routine and getting a change of scenery is fine if you can do it, but it isn't our answer. It does help and there is nothing wrong with doing it. But there is only one place where we find true rest and refreshing. It is in the presence of the Lord.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><em style="font-family: arial;">"<span class="text Isa-28-12" id="en-KJV-18177">To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." (Isaiah 28:12)</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Isa-28-12"></span></span></em></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus showed us by example where this place was. If anyone needed a rest, and a break, it was Jesus. He was constantly surrounded by people wanting something from Him. He couldn't eat or sleep without someone right there all the time. Yet, He was always "refreshed", it never got "the best of Him". That place was in the presence of the Father. Often, He would get away, go up to a mountain, the other side of the sea, or stay up all night to commune with His Father. This is where we find the rest that we need. Like the old hymn says-- "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Isa-28-12"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Isa-28-12"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>"</em><span class="text Jer-31-25" id="en-KJV-19717"><em>For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." (Jeremiah 31:25)</em> We may not be able to go somewhere away from the place of demands upon us, but we can go straight into the presence of the Lord and find rest and refreshing for our weariness. The rest that He gives is complete-- not a little rest. It refreshes our whole spirit, soul and body. He satiates us and replenishes us when we ask. He causes us to no longer be weary but instead we receive the strength to "mount up with wings like eagles. So that we can run and not be weary, walk and not faint." </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Jer-31-25"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">There is no better place on earth to receive the rest that we need and are looking for, than in the presence of the Lord. The best thing about it is that you don't have to make reservations-- there is always a place available for you. You don't have to travel far to get there-- just the distance to your knees. It doesn't cost one cent-- it has been paid for through the blood of Jesus. And you can always go there at any time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Jer-31-25"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Do you need a break? Do you need a rest? Do you need to be refreshed? There is a place where you can find perfect rest. It's in the Presence of God. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Jer-31-25"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 40:31</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-20155053726700265652024-02-27T07:06:00.003-06:002024-02-27T07:06:50.234-06:00"Don't Camp Out In Yesterday"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-KJV-29435" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." Philippians 3:13</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3036497405351354048" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday is gone, today is a new day. We have to leave yesterday's failures and victories behind and face what lies ahead of us this day. With each new day comes new challenges, new mountains to climb, new valleys to pass through, and new seas to cross. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When Jesus walked the earth, He and His disciples were constantly going from one place to another. They were either crossing a sea, climbing a mountain, walking the shores or going from one town to another. They didn't stay in one "place" too long. On the mountain of transfiguration the disciples wanted to build a temple to the Lord and stay there. But Jesus took them back down into the valley instead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Life is not a place of standing still. It is a place of going forth and forward. We can't camp out on the mountain top. We can't camp out in the valley beside still waters. We can't camp out in yesterday's failures and give up and stop going to our next appointed destination. We can't camp out in yesterday's victories and not press on to new ones today. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Are you "stuck" in yesterday? Are you wanting to camp out there? Camp out in self-pity, in the mistakes, in the condemnation, in the guilt. Are you wanting to camp out in the triumphs, in the victory, in the glorious experience? Get up and move on. It is time to "get into the boat". It is time to go to "Samaria". It is time to go to the "mountain of transfiguration". It is time to go to the "shore". It is time to go into the "highways and byways". It is time to leave yesterday and go forward into the new places of today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. You can't camp out in yesterday. Today is a new day with new battles to fight, new places to see, new challenges to meet and a destiny to fulfill.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Phil-3-13"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 17:1-5</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 14:23</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 4:4</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-8868519094499035762024-02-26T06:59:00.003-06:002024-02-26T06:59:46.215-06:00"Praise God On Both Sides"<p><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><em>"</em></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">For I am the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5808704555564526730" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">Anyone can praise God when things are going well. But can you praise Him in the storm? Can you praise Him in the darkest night of your life? Can you praise Him in trouble? Can you praise Him in the valley? Can you praise Him in the fire? When the children of Israel left Egypt, they soon found themselves hemmed in between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea. God delivered them by parting the sea, making a path through it and drowning Pharaoh's army. When they came across on the other side, they sang a song of triumph, deliverance and victory. What a wonderful, glorious time! It was a time of rejoicing, celebration and giving praise to God. They sang the right song-- praise and glory to God-- they just sang it on the wrong side. They should have sung it on both sides of the sea.</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You may ask, "How can you sing praise when you are in the middle of a trial, tribulation or problem?". That is the wrong question to ask. The right question is, "Why can't I?". After all, God is no different on this side of the sea then He was on the other side. He is the same on both sides of the trial. He is the same in the storm as He is after He calms it. He is still God. He is the Deliverer while you are facing the enemy as much as He is when the conflict has passed. He is as much the Healer when the bad report comes that you have an illness as He is at the end of it and the reports come back negative. He doesn't change after the problem has passed and then become the Victor. He already is the Victor-- before the battle, during the battle and after the battle. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Job praised God when he got the bad reports that he had lost everything including his children. Paul and Silas praised God while sitting in chains in the prison. They didn't wait to praise Him after He delivered them. They praised Him before. They could do this because they knew who He was. They knew that He was just as powerful, just as mighty, just as able to deliver, and was with them while the storm was raging as He was after He had calmed it. Don't wait to give Him praise until after the problem has passed. Give Him praise and worship when it first comes, during the middle of it and after it is over because He is the same before, during and after the trial.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Praise God on both sides of your trial-- when it first starts and when it ends. Because He doesn't become your deliverer only when it ends. He is the deliverer even before it begins. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Acts 16:25</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Exodus 15:1-3</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-81875349238575428462024-02-23T05:32:00.003-06:002024-02-23T05:32:23.039-06:00"Open And Not Ashamed"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Ps-98-2" id="en-KJV-15493" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen." Psalm 98:2</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4072140009102507780" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-98-2"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When the Lord made the provision for our salvation, He didn't do it in secret. He didn't do it behind closed doors. He did it openly before all to see. Jesus' death on the cross is our provision for salvation. He was crucified on a hill, not in a cave. He was crucified in the open, not inside the temple. He wasn't crucified on ground level but on a cross- lifted up so that even those who were in the distance could see it. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-98-2"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He was crucified openly so that there would be no doubt as to what He did. He did it openly so that we would know that it was provided. He wasn't ashamed to be seen hanging on the cross for us. He did it openly as a reminder also. Should you ever doubt His love for you, should you ever wonder about the provision of salvation, just look at the cross. It is right there in the wide open for you to see. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-98-2"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">If everything He did for us was done openly, shouldn't we live our lives openly for Him? Should we be "undercover secret" Christians? I am not talking to my brothers and sisters who are in countries where you are being persecuted and martyred for the cause of Christ, and you have to be more "secretive" about your relationship with Jesus. I am talking to my brothers and sisters who live in countries where you have the freedom to live openly for Christ, but don't. We said earlier that He wasn't ashamed to hang on the cross for all to see because He loved you that much. Are you going to be ashamed to let others see that you love Him that much by living for Him openly? </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-98-2"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. What Jesus did for you was done in the open, not in secret. He wasn't ashamed to love you and provide salvation for you so that all could see it. Are you ashamed to live openly for Him?</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-98-2"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mark 8:38</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 12:32</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-69066963579472326582024-02-22T05:30:00.004-06:002024-02-22T05:30:43.942-06:00"It Will Reclaim Itself"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Rom-7-24" id="en-KJV-28116" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Romans 7:24</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5385927784420914130" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is one thing about nature that I have noticed, if left unattended it will always reclaim itself. You can take a piece of land and clear it but if you don't maintain it, it will go back to its original state. This happens with my garden each year. During the off season the grass and weeds take over.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">This isn't just confined to nature; our souls will do the same. Once we receive salvation we then have to "work out our salvation". It isn't about a one-time trip to the altar. Daily we have to guard our hearts from the pull of the old man to "reclaim" itself. If we leave our lives "unkept" it will be noticeable- just like an unkept piece of land. Signs of the flesh will be seen. There will be no joy. Peace will not be evident. Love will give way to selfishness. And so on. If left unkept temptations will overtake us and we will find ourselves doing those things that we do not want to do. </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">How do we do that? In order to keep my yard looking like a yard instead of a wilderness I have to work at it- constantly. I have to rake, pick up the limbs, mow it, pull up weeds, etc. It is the same with our lives. We have to "work" at it daily-- not just on Sundays at church. We have to read and study God's Word and apply it to our lives. We have to hide it in our hearts. We have to keep our minds renewed with God's Word. We have to pray without ceasing; seek first the kingdom of God; take up our cross; deny ourselves; put on the full armor of God. If we neglect those things that bring spiritual growth and change in our lives, it won't be long before it is evident. </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Nature will reclaim itself if left unattended. Our old nature will try to reclaim itself if we neglect our spiritual man. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 7:18-25</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippians 2:12</span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-4098727318990449002024-02-21T05:33:00.002-06:002024-02-21T05:33:07.607-06:00"Seasons End When They Are Over"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Eccl-3-1" id="en-KJV-17361" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span class="chapternum"></span>To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3026995477600596181" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">There are seasons in our lives, not just in nature. Like the four seasons- spring, summer, fall and winter- each season brings its own characteristic. Spring brings new life. Summer is hot. Fall things begin to transition. Winter is cold. Each of the four seasons have to "run their course" before they give way to the next one. It is the same with the seasons of our lives. We want certain "seasons" to "hurry and change", but they have to run their course as well. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I much prefer the summer season. My least favorite is winter, and I look forward to it being over. But winter is needful to the earth. In life I don't enjoy the seasons of testing and trials, (I much prefer the seasons of peace and prosperity) but they are needful. The point I am trying to make is, although we don't enjoy some seasons and try to rush them up and get them over with, we need to learn to be content in them. They are set to "run their course". They will be over when it is time for them to be over. They are not going to end until they have accomplished their full purpose. Joseph tried to hurry his season in the prison up by asking the butter to remember him to Pharaoh. It was two years later before the butler told Pharaoh about Joseph. His season wasn't over until it had "run its course". It came to an end when it had accomplished what it needed to do. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We might as well stop trying to rush whatever "season" we are in-- it will end when it is the appointed time for it to end. In the meantime, be content in it and let it accomplish its purpose.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. This season will end when it has "run its course".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippians 4:11</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Genesis 40</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-19592464313866865822024-02-20T05:45:00.000-06:002024-02-20T05:45:03.991-06:00"Feelings Driven Or Word Driven?"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Corinthians 5:7</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8348795661067937952" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I woke up with another song repeating over and over in my thoughts again this morning. <em>"I'm not moved by what I feel, I'm only moved by the Word that real." </em>If we aren't careful it is so easy for us to walk/live by our feelings and emotions. We are "sense" driven people-- motivated by our own senses. (Seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting and touching.) If I can't see it then it isn't real. If I don't like what I hear then I ignore it. If it doesn't feel good then I don't want to do it. If it doesn't taste to my liking then I won't eat it. If I am not allowed to touch it then I get angry. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If you walk by your feelings you will go astray. Feelings are fickle. They are constantly changing. What made me happy yesterday doesn't today-- if you don't believe it, look at marriage and divorce. What made me cry in the past may not any more because I have hardened to that situation. What once appalled me, may be acceptable to me now. Our feelings change daily. You can wake up feeling great and on top of the world and within minutes be so distressed that you just want to die. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As Christians we can't allow our feelings to govern, dictate and influence our lives. Are "feelings" a bad thing? No, God gave us our feelings. But our feelings have to be kept in check, sanctified and brought into submission to the Lord. They have to be ruled by His Word-- not allowed to rule us. Our feelings don't "call the shots". They don't tell us what to do and what not to do. They don't tell us what is and isn't acceptable. They don't make decisions for us. We can't allow them the "headship" in our lives because they are often "false". The Word of God is the determining, ruling factor in our lives. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Every situation we face should be governed by and viewed in light of the Word of God-- not our feelings. The Word of God is Truth-- it is the only truth. It isn't fickle. It isn't up today and down tomorrow. It doesn't change with every wind. It isn't affected by circumstances. It stays the same day in and day out. It has always held steady- the same. It is the same in adversity and in victory-- it does not change. It is the same yesterday, today and forever. It isn't moved by feelings, by the economy, by trials, by tribulation, or by temptation. It is the same in the good times as it is in the bad times. Therefore, we have to be "moved" by the Word of God and let it hold us steady in all circumstances of life-- and not our feelings.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We can't be moved by what we feel-- feelings can be false. We have to be moved by the Word of God-- it's the truth. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 119:89; 160</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 17:17</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Romans 1:17</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 24:35</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-10837081816323470152024-02-19T05:59:00.001-06:002024-02-19T05:59:04.421-06:00"Defeating The Enemy"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Neh-4-8" id="en-KJV-12368" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." Nehemiah 4:8</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7152613841132752755" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"></span></span></div><div><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">In context this verse is talking about when Nehemiah had gone to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city, and while they were working their enemies - </span><span class="text Neh-4-7" id="en-KJV-12367" style="color: #222222;">Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, came against them to stop the work. (</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">There is still an enemy who will try to conspire against us in the work of the Lord.)</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;">That enemy is not Sanballat, or the Ammonites, or any of the ones that were named in this scripture. But it is the same enemy. It is the same enemy that conspired against Nehemiah, against David, against Daniel, Paul and against the Israelites. The real enemy who is behind the one who appears to be the enemy is the devil/adversary. He is the one who tries to stop the work of the Lord. He is the one who goes about seeking whom he may devour. He may come in many "forms"-- a wolf in sheep's clothing, an angel of light, a wicked king, a seductive woman, etc.-- but it is still him. </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span class="text Neh-4-7"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">How do we withstand and fight against this enemy? How do we keep him from stopping us in the work of the Lord? How do we keep him from side-tracking us and causing us to stop doing what we are called to do? The answer is in the next verse. </span><em><span style="color: #222222;">"</span><span class="text Neh-4-9" id="en-KJV-12369"><span style="color: #222222;">Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them."</span></span></em></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span class="text Neh-4-7"><em><span class="text Neh-4-9" id="en-KJV-12369"> </span></em></span></span><span class="text Neh-4-8"><span class="text Neh-4-7"><em></em></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em></em></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first thing we do is pray to God. We call upon the Lord to defend, protect, advise, give us strength and wisdom. We bring God into our situation-- not think that we can handle it by ourselves. (The battle belongs to the Lord.) </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">The next thing we do is keep an eye out for the enemy. How do we do that? Through God's Word. Ephesians tells us to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the schemes and devises of the devil. That armor is Christ Himself-- it is the Word. When we are clothed with God's Word, our spiritual eyes are enlightened, and we see clearly the tactics and plans of the enemy.</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How do we fight against the enemy who conspires against us in our work of the Lord. The answer is clear, Jesus summed it up for us-- "Watch and pray". </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. The devil still comes to stop us from doing God's work, but he is defeated when we watch and pray. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Neh-4-7"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 26:41</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ephesians 6:11,12</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 10:10</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Samuel 17:47</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-60731976962064634222024-02-16T06:22:00.002-06:002024-02-16T06:22:43.413-06:00"I Am - Not I Was"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"And God said unto Moses, </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">I Am That I Am</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">I Am</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1125009146517664255" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We live in a world where literally everything around us changes. People change, weather changes, the economy changes, seasons change, there is nothing that does not change in this physical realm. In a world that is constantly changing we must remind ourselves often that God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">Whatever God was yesterday, whatever He was in the past, He still is in the present. He told Moses to tell the children of Israel that He is "I Am". He didn't say to tell them that He Was. When He says He was and is and is to come, He is referring to His existence. He has always been, and He always will be. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but He never will. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If "He Was", instead of "I Am", then He Was the miracle working God. Then He Was the Healer. He Was the Savior and Deliverer. He Was Love, Peace and Joy. But He is not the "I Was". He is the "I Am". I Am the Healer. I Am your Fortress. I Am your Strength. I Am Love. For us past is past. Past will always be the past-- never the present. But for God when He says He is I Am, I Am is present tense. God is a present God, even the past becomes the present. For us the future is future, and it will always be the future. But for God, the future becomes the present. Past and future become present in God-- I Am. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The point is that the past doesn't hold God back or confine Him. The future doesn't restrict Him. He is the ever-present God who is as He has always been. This is comforting to us. Knowing this should give us peace and confidence. It should bring us security in knowing that whoever and whatever He was and did for us in the past, He hasn't changed and will be the same for us today, in the future, and always. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Everything in this life changes, except God. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 24:35</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Malachi 3:6</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 13:8</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Revelation 4:8</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-1523880833158197482024-02-15T06:09:00.002-06:002024-02-15T06:09:28.665-06:00"Just One Person's Prayer"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:6</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7084096773006603216" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Book of Daniel there were certain men who were jealous of Daniel. They schemed against him by tricking the king into signing a decree that no one could pray to any god but him for thirty days, the whole plot was to keep one man from praying.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">One the surface it appeared to be an act of jealousy on these men's part. But in reality, it was a plot of hell to stop Daniel from praying. Hell/the adversary/the devil doesn't fear when all we do is "talk" about prayer. He fears when we actually put prayer into practice. We can talk about it, preach it, say we need to do it, but until we pray, we are not a threat to his work or plans at all. Daniel did more than think about praying, he prayed. Three times a day he prayed. He didn't let anything stop him. He didn't let his busy schedule stop him. He didn't let his responsibilities stop him. He didn't even let the decree of the king stop him. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The adversary wants to stop you from praying. He wants to keep you from petitioning God for your needs, for direction, for wisdom, etc. Prayer is powerful, because it is the avenue that the All-Powerful God uses to administer His will in the earth. Scriptures are very plain about the power of prayer. It is our communion with God. It is our weapon to thwart the plans of the enemy. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Where do we take it by force? On our knees. Where is the battleground upon which we fight? On our knees. Where is the enemy defeated? On our knees. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why would the adversary go to such lengths to try to stop just one man from praying? What threat was one man? He knows that when men and women pray, he is defeated. He was afraid of just one man's prayer. Imagine what would happen to his plans if all of us who profess to be Christians would take prayer seriously and actually pray.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. Hell trembles at the prayer of even one person because it knows how powerful prayer is. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">James 4:2</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 18:19</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 16:24</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 34:4</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Daniel 6</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-48725009119455146312024-02-14T05:50:00.003-06:002024-02-14T05:50:20.715-06:00"The Prepared Place"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text 1Thess-4-17" id="en-KJV-29621" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4603114340451090187" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is a blessed day that is coming when the Lord will return in the clouds and take His people home. Do we know when that day is? No. Do we know if we will be alive when it happens? No. There is much we don't know concerning the future-- even our own future. We don't know if we will go up with the Lord when He returns or if we will already be "in the grave". But there is one thing that we can know for sure-- regardless of how and when we leave this world-- "we will forever be with the Lord".</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We will all leave this world one day. It is appointed unto man once to die. We all have an appointment with death. We just don't have the luxury of knowing when and how we will meet that appointment. That is not the important issue. The important issue is what will happen to you after you leave. When we leave this earth, we leave this earth. We don't come back in another form. We don't get a second chance to do it all over again. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17" style="color: #222222;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-18" id="en-KJV-29622"><em>"Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (verse 18)</em> </span>Have you made preparation for that day? If you have and Jesus is your Savior and Lord, then you will forever be with the Lord. What a comforting thought. This life is not all there is. There is a better one that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. It is a place of unimagined beauty. <em>"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (</em><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"><em>1 Corinthians 2:9) </em></span></span><span style="color: #222222;">It is a place where there is joy, peace and pleasure. It is a place of light, no darkness. It's a place of love, no hate. It is a place where the Lord rules and reigns. It is indescribable-- and it is a place where we will never have to worry about being away from His presence anymore. We will forever be "with the Lord". That is what makes that place so wonderful. His presence. Are you going to go there when that day comes?</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. There is a wonderful place prepared for those who love the Lord, and have surrendered their lives to Him, when they leave this earth. That place is the eternal presence of God. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-17"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 14:1-3</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Corinthians 5:8</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Revelation 21:22,23,27</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 9:27</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826075906580194728.post-45722582219371538572024-02-13T06:46:00.002-06:002024-02-13T06:46:08.099-06:00"The Flashlight"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="text Ps-119-105" id="en-KJV-16004" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7273859031786328193" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">God's word is many things to us. His word is a lamp and a light unto our path. Have you ever walked outside at night when it is dark? When there is no light outside to see by and if the moon is hidden behind the clouds, it can be very dark. <span class="text Ps-119-105"></span>The darkness leaves us with the inability to see where you are going. Because we are unable to see we don't know what lies ahead of us making it easy to stumble or fall. At those times it would be wonderful to have even a flashlight. </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Life has its times of "light" and "darkness". There are times when we see everything clearly. We know where we are going, what we are doing, and have clear direction. But then there are times when it is "dark". The way before us is unclear, we don't know what to do, we can't see to make the next step. This happens on "familiar" paths of life-- those places we have been through before-- and on "unfamiliar" paths-- the places we have never been through before. On either path, the familiar and unfamiliar, we have one desire-- light! </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The good news is that there is "light" for us so that we don't have to walk in darkness down any path that we are on. That light is God's word. His word will give us light to "see" as we walk the path of life. It will give us the light of peace, of direction, of comfort and of joy. When we read God's word, hide it in our hearts and apply it in the situation, it is like having a "flashlight" with us to light up our path. Also, when we have Jesus living in our lives, He is the Living Word and the Light of men, His presence gives us light. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As long as we have God's Word-- the written promises-- and God's Word-- the Lord Jesus-- in our lives, we will never walk in darkness. The Light will always be with us shining on our path of life. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great day. We need a flashlight when walking through dark places. When we come to dark places/times in our lives, we need a flashlight then too-- it is God's Word. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-119-105"></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reading:</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 9:2</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">John 1:1,4,5</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div>Lorrainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591840606733098146noreply@blogger.com0